Ripken Stadium

Ripken Stadium

History

Home of the Orioles Short Season, Single A affiliate Aberdeen IronBirds, Ripken Stadium opened to rave reviews in 2002 and is one of two teams in the history of Baseball to sell out every home game in franchise history. With a capacity of 6,300 the design (along with continuing renovations and upgrades) was designed to compliment the unique sales philosophies of Ripken Baseball and the Aberdeen IronBirds.

The idea of The Aberdeen Project probably started on September 6, 1995, the night that Cal Ripken, Jr. became baseball's all-time "Ironman" when he played in his 2,131st consecutive game. That evening Cal received a $75,000 gift from the Major League Baseball Player's Association to build a "Field of Dreams" in the Ripken hometown of Aberdeen, MD. Cal, Bill and the entire Ripken family liked the idea, but started to think much bigger. Why refurbish one field in Aberdeen when they could do something on a much grander scale?

Ripken Academy
Ripken Academy is the headquarters for Ripken Amateur Baseball. Built in 2003 with continuing design and construction projects each year to improve and increase facilities, Ripken Academy has become one of the most sought after youth baseball facilities in the United States. In 2009, the facilities will be host to over 1,000 campers and over 1,100 Tournament Teams.

Cal Sr.'s Yard
Cal Sr.'s Yard is the signature facility on the Ripken Baseball Academy located adjacent to Ripken Stadium. This facility is operated by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, which works to create baseball and softball programs and facilities that positively impact disadvantaged youth by combining the principles represented by the Ripken name, the power of Cal, Jr. as a modern day hero and role model, and the universal appeal baseball.

Through Cal Sr.'s Yard, the Foundation strives to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences that use the magic of the bigleagues to inspire kids to be the best that they can be... to dream a dream that someday they can achieve great things.

Phase 4: The fourth phase of the Aberdeen Project will consist of future development. Ripken Baseball, the City of Aberdeen, Harford County and the State of Maryland will work together to assure that the land in and around the complex will fit the theme of baseball, families and fun.